Debusschere wins GP de Wallonie

Jens Debusschere (Lotto-Soudal) wins Grand Prix de Wallonie

Jens Debusschere (Lotto-Soudal) wins Grand Prix de Wallonie (Image credit: Grand Prix de Wallonie)

Jens Debusschere (Lotto-Soudal) soloed to victory in Namur during a rain-soaked Grand Prix de Wallonie. Debusschere attacked just outside the one kilometre to go banner, dropping his breakaway companions to win by a handful of seconds. A very disappointed Jan Bakelants (AG2R-La Mondiale) won the sprint behind for second with Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) taking third.

It was a wet and wild day for the peloton as the rain hammered down. The deluge meant some slippery roads and there were numerous crashes early on. One of the victims was Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis), who is on the comeback trail since crashing out of the Tour de France. Fortunately for the Frenchman, he was able to continue this time.

The heavy rain and crashes made it difficult for a break to form and it wasn’t until after 40 kilometres ridden that five men managed to make it away. The fantastic five were Benoit Jarrier (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Dieter Bouvry (Roubaix Lille Métropole), Kevin Van Melsen (Wanty – Groupe Gobert), Christophe Premont (Verandas Willems Cycling Team), Thomas Wertz (Wallonie – Bruxelles). The peloton were wise to them and their advantage maxed out at just under two minutes.

With 50 kilometres still to run they had a miserly 10 seconds over the chasing pack. That briefly stretched out when Van Melsen was caught but their day was done just two kilometres later. Almost the instant the remaining escapes were brought back the attacks started flying off the front. BMC’s Michael Schär was one of the key instigators and took several riders with him on one particular move.

Most of the attacks were given little more than a 10-second advantage but the high pace strung the group out and began shedding exhausted riders off the back. With 15 kilometres to go there were around 20 riders remaining in the so-called peloton. The attacks continued to fly and eventually the elastic snapped with nine riders breaking free. Etixx-QuickStep were one of the few to miss out as most of the remaining teams managed to put a man up front.

Laporte, Rudy Molard (Cofidis), Thibaut Pinot and Arthur Vichot (both FDJ), Bakelants, Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Soudal), Debusschere, Franck Bonnamour (Bretagne-Séché Environment) and Gäetan Bille (Verandas Willems) were the riders at the head of affairs.

With multiple riders in the move, Lotto-Soudal and FDJ set about animating the remainder of the race and set a couple of speculative attacks off the front. The attacks looked like they had some riders on the ropes but they remained together as they approached the final cobbled climb into Namur.

Cofidis set the pace on the small rise they had no response when Debusschere went just outside the final kilometre. Debusschere threw a couple of looks over his shoulder to see where the chasers where but they took too long to organise and he had plenty of time to celebrate. Bakelants, who had been very active in the final 25 kilometres, thumped his handlebars as he crossed the line for second with Laporte coming over in third.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Soudal4:57:37
2Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:06
3Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:07
4Gaetan Bille (Bel) Verandas Willems Cycling TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:08
6Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr0:00:10
7Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr0:00:12
8Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 7 - Cell 2
9Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:26
10Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:00:43
11Sean De Bie (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 10 - Cell 2
12Floris De Tier (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 11 - Cell 2
13Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Olivier Pardini (Bel) Verandas Willems Cycling TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Kevin Ista (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 14 - Cell 2
16Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo0:00:46
17Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 16 - Cell 2
18Michal Golas (Pol) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 17 - Cell 2
19Louis Vervaeke (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:49
20Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:00:52
21Tom Dernies (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 20 - Cell 2
22Laurens De Plus (Bel) Belgium0:00:54
23Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal0:01:04
24Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Bretagne-Séché Environnement0:01:07
25Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:01:21
26Michael Gogl (Aut) Tinkoff-Saxo0:01:35
27Florian Vachon (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 26 - Cell 2
28Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:41
29Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team0:01:58
30Martijn Degreve (Bel) Team 3M0:02:04
31Emiel Planckaert (Bel) BelgiumRow 30 - Cell 2
32Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC Racing TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Aime De Gendt (Bel) Belgium0:02:06
34Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:03:35
35Dries Van Gestel (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 34 - Cell 2
36Nicolas Vereecken (Bel) Team 3MRow 35 - Cell 2
37Kilian Frankiny (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 36 - Cell 2
38Nicolas Mertz (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 37 - Cell 2
39Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Roubaix Lille Metropole0:03:36
40Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) Etixx - Quick-Step0:03:49
41Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Bretagne-Séché Environnement0:04:45
42Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ.frRow 41 - Cell 2
43Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek Factory Racing0:04:52
44Tom Bosmans (Bel) Belgium0:05:05
45Dimitri Peyskens (Bel) Team 3MRow 44 - Cell 2
46Maxime Farazijn (Bel) Belgium0:05:09
47Benjamin Declercq (Bel) BelgiumRow 46 - Cell 2
48Antoine Loy (Bel) Color Code - Aquality ProtectRow 47 - Cell 2
49Jimmy Janssens (Bel) Team 3MRow 48 - Cell 2
50Loic Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:05:11
51Julien Van Den (Bel) Veranclassic - Ekoi0:06:15
52David De La Cruz (Spa) Etixx - Quick-Step0:06:58
53Antoine Didier (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental Wallon0:07:38
54Sebastien Carabin (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental Wallon0:07:51
55Joeri Calleeuw (Bel) Verandas Willems Cycling Team0:08:21
56Justin Jules (Fra) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 55 - Cell 2
57Fabio Silvestre (Por) Trek Factory RacingRow 56 - Cell 2
58Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 57 - Cell 2
59Michal Kolár (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 58 - Cell 2
60Sander Helven (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 59 - Cell 2
61Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 60 - Cell 2
62Vegard Breen (Nor) Lotto SoudalRow 61 - Cell 2
63Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 62 - Cell 2
64Jens Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 63 - Cell 2
65Jeremy Leveau (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 64 - Cell 2
66Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Dries De Bondt (Bel) Verandas Willems Cycling TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 67 - Cell 2
69Rudy Kowalski (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 68 - Cell 2
70Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 69 - Cell 2
71Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 70 - Cell 2
72Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 71 - Cell 2
73Florent Delfosse (Bel) Color Code - Aquality ProtectRow 72 - Cell 2
74Daan Myngheer (Bel) Verandas Willems Cycling TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Antoine Demoitie (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 74 - Cell 2
76Ludwig De Winter (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 75 - Cell 2
77Jean-Marc Bideau (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 76 - Cell 2
78Olivier Chevalier (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 77 - Cell 2
79Gregory Habeaux (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 78 - Cell 2
80Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing0:09:26
81Nico Denz (Ger) AG2R La Mondiale0:10:54
82Julien Kaise (Bel) Color Code - Aquality ProtectRow 81 - Cell 2
83Maximilien Picoux (Bel) Color Code - Aquality ProtectRow 82 - Cell 2
84Romain Feillu (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 83 - Cell 2
85Christophe Premont (Bel) Verandas Willems Cycling TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
86Marc Fournier (Fra) FDJ.frRow 85 - Cell 2
87Thomas Wertz (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 86 - Cell 2
88Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 87 - Cell 2
89Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 88 - Cell 2
90Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 89 - Cell 2
91Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 90 - Cell 2
92Stef Van Zummeren (Bel) Verandas Willems Cycling TeamRow 91 - Cell 2
93François Bidard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 92 - Cell 2
94Christophe Laborie (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 93 - Cell 2
95Niels De Rooze (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 94 - Cell 2
96Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 95 - Cell 2
97Remy Mertz (Bel) Color Code - Aquality ProtectRow 96 - Cell 2
98Elias Van (Bel) Verandas Willems Cycling Team0:11:13
99Guillaume Haag (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental Wallon0:11:39
100Tim De Troyer (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:11:45
DNFGorik Gardeyn (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFWaile Kahkahy (Mar) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFMartial Roman (Fra) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFTim Vanspeybroeck (Bel) Team 3MRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Goderis (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFAntoine Leleu (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFAntoine Warnier (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFJenthe Biermans (Bel) BelgiumRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFSteff Cras (Bel) BelgiumRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFBjörn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Barroso (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFTom Devriendt (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFTom Galle (Bel) Color Code - Aquality ProtectRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Palm (Bel) Color Code - Aquality ProtectRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Duquennoy (Bel) Color Code - Aquality ProtectRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Antomarchi (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFDieter Bouvry (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Pillon (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Turgis (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFTom Armstrong (GBr) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFBastien Kroonen (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFClaudio Catania (Ita) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFGertjan De Vos (Bel) Team 3MRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFEduard Alexander (Col) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFFelix Grosschartner (Aut) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFJesus Hernandez (Spa) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFEugenio Alafaci (Ita) Trek Factory RacingRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFFumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek Factory RacingRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFKristof Vandewalle (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFCalvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory RacingRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFNacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFKenneth Van Bilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Van Staeyen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFOtto Vergaerde (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFBen Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFQuentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFPierre-Roger Latour (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFSamuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFPetr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFMark Renshaw (Aus) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Serry (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFElie Gesbert (Fra) FDJ.frRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFLorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJ.frRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Sarreau (Fra) FDJ.frRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFFabien Doubey (Fra) FDJ.frRow 144 - Cell 2
DNSRobert Kiserlovski (Cro) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 145 - Cell 2
DNSChristophe Sleurs (Bel) Team 3MRow 146 - Cell 2
DNSEmiel Vermeulen (Bel) Team 3MRow 147 - Cell 2

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